Going, Going, Gone: Skim Gang Steals $200,000 From Cubs Fans

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As if the Chicago Cubs needed another strike against them, the
team's diehard fans are now getting robbed as well — to the tune
of more than $200,000.

Criminal charges were filed last Friday (April 27) against six
people suspected of using hidden credit card skimming devices to
swipe the bank information from patrons of Chicago-area
restaurants and attractions, including Wrigley Field.

Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan accused Joseph
Woods, 32, of organizing the fraud scheme. A Chicago resident,
Woods allegedly provided his network of employees with credit
card readers, and paid them to swipe customers' cards. Woods'
employees worked at local restaurants, including the famed Ralph
Lauren Restaurant (RL) on Chicago's Magnificent Mile and
less-famed establishments such as Taco Bell and McDonald's.

After running victims' bank cards through the devices, Woods made
counterfeit credit cards of his own, and racked up more than
$200,000 in charges. Customers from Chase, U.S. Bank, Citibank,
Harris Bank, American Express, Bank of America and Fifth Third
Bank were all affected by the
skimming gang's exploits, Madigan said.

The six defendants were each charged with conspiracy to commit a
financial crime, a felony punishable by four to 15 years in
prison. Some of the suspected crooks are also facing charges of
identity theft and continuing a financial crimes enterprise.